Middle East Missions

I sometimes wonder if I’ll ever feel like the experienced world traveler that I’m quickly becoming.  My Middle Eastern journeys continue as I now await a military flight out of Al Udeid bound for Bagram, Afghanistan.  This trip was scheduled on such short notice that I barely even had time to tell my closest friends and family (much less my wonderful pet sitter) that I would be leaving.  So, how did I get here?

Since returning from Baghdad in August, my life has dramatically changed.  I anticipated returning to Colorado and resuming my position as one of the hundreds of developers digging through line after line of the java code that comprises WebTAS, the project that I originally joined when accepting my position with ISS.  Much to my surprise and delight, though, I was quickly asked if I’d like to permanently join the handful of engineers that make up what we affectionately call the CIDNE Team.  WebTAS is quite a large effort, and with so many employees contributing to the project, it’s sometimes a futile attempt to have your work noticed and appreciated.  Since the CIDNE team is considerably smaller, you genuinely feel like you’re making a real impact with every idea and task you take on.  It’s also quite beneficial to have the opportunity to work directly with the end users.  My time spent in Baghdad was more valuable than I ever could’ve imagined.  It’s amazing to work one on one with military personnel and to experience first hand how your efforts are impacting, improving, and even saving soldiers’ lives.

I obviously jumped at the chance to join the project that I’d become so familiar with and the team that I’d grown quite fond of over those several months in Iraq.  Little did I know that this would give me the opportunity to get out of the four stagnant, cloth-covered walls of my Colorado Springs cubicle.  Yes, I do have a great view sitting at that corner desk, but now I’m living the life I’ve always yearned for.  I’m seeing the world.

Just a couple of weeks after planting my feet on American soil, I shipped off for a three-week mission to Ft. Polk, LA, and Ft. Bragg, NC.  Since then, I’ve worked in our Hampton, VA, office, drank amazing dunkles-weissen in Germany, and vacationed in my hometown in Arkansas, Nashville, Austin, and Washington DC.  I’ve learned tidbits of Arabic and German, I’ve received a coin of excellence from an Army General, I’ve gambled in Atlantic City, and I’ve rocked out with Ozzy, Zack Wilde, and Rob Zombie live.  Not every trip is especially noteworthy, but I’ve learned more and made memories with each.

Last week while working at the CIDNE headquarters in Virginia, I was asked to deploy to Afghanistan for a specific task that I’d been working stateside for the last several weeks.  Though very late notice, I agreed.  This will be a short trip — five weeks of total travel time, with only one month spent in Bagram.  This trip will be dramatically different from my time spent in Baghdad, as well.  CIDNE is not yet fully operational in Afghanistan, but it will be by the time I leave.  My time will not be spent writing code on the fly for last minute software requests, nor will it be spent answering hectic phone calls from confused users.  Instead, my time will be slightly less hurried, importing data and testing servers and configurations to ensure that we’re finally ready to go live.

My living conditions will not be near as cushy as those on Camp Victory, either.  Afghanistan winters are pretty comparable to those of Colorado, including the bitter cold temperatures and snow.  Permanent housing is just now being built on the base in Bagram, and I will likely be housed in a plywood hut sectioned off to resemble horse stables.  Oh, and did I mentioned that my new home will have little to no heat?  I learned over the weekend that it’s much easier to pack one bag full of clothes suitable for 130 degree temperatures.  Sweatshirts, fleece pants, and long johns take up quite a bit more space.

I also learned enough over my last trip through Doha not to even bother bringing some of my personal appliances.  I may have failed to mention (due to embarrassment) that I blew my hair dryer and my hand up, and I blew out the lights on my entire hotel floor the first night in Qatar last year.  How was I supposed to know, having never traveled outside of the United States, that electrical outlets on the other side of the world put out twice the voltage of those in America?  Hell, the dryer supplied by the hotel I’m in now is partially melted and deformed because even appliances manufactured specifically for these sockets can’t handle that amount of juice.  Another casualty from my last trip overseas was my alarm clock.  It ran for about thirty minutes at triple speed before completely dying.  My new replacement is still sitting safely on the nightstand in my Colorado apartment.

To save even more precious space in my oversized bag, I followed some of the tips that worked so well for me last April.  First, I left behind towels and other linens.  They’re fairly inexpensive, so I don’t mind throwing them out when I return.  I also skimped on the bathroom products that I decided to bring along.  I’ll have to purchase shampoo and soap when I reach my final destination.  Fortunately, I’m not a brand-whore, because the PX typically carries a very limited selection — one brand of each type of product, and what’s available changes frequently.  At least there will be a variety and no shortage of cigarettes, because then I might be in trouble.

Yes, I believe this will prove to be a different, yet no less exciting trip to add to my growing list of around-the-world adventures.  Oh, and I’ll get to add one more country to the list of those I’ve visited.

I wrote the preceeding yesterday from the confines of my hotel room.  I wrote it mainly for the benefit of my family, who love to hear of my worldwide adventures.  I do have plenty more to update you on, though.  Had I realized (or remembered, quite frankly) the cliffhanger that I’d left you with in my last entry, I genuinely wouldn’t have waited so long to update.

After sending that heartfelt note to Chuck, I thought for sure that I’d never hear from him again.  He only survived three days without contacting me.  Not a day has gone by since that we haven’t spoken, and we’ve even gone to extreme lengths to see each other.  I flew down last minute in January to spend a weekend with him, and he caught a flight to Colorado just last week.  Six glorious, amazing, perfect days that we’ve spent together, and I yearn for him now more than ever.

I’ll write again soon with more details, perhaps even this afternoon.  Right now, though, I’m starving.  I’m not too much a fan of middle eastern food, and my tummy has been rumbling at me for days.  I’ve simply got to rummage up something edible!

Cheers,
Felina

Log in to write a note
February 13, 2008

I love seeing you as a recent update 🙂

February 13, 2008

I’m jealous…I wish thinking about sneaking into Afghanistan and eating the brains of a few poppy growers.

February 13, 2008

I am so glad to see you updated. You did leave us all hanging LOL Update again soon and be safe……

February 13, 2008

about damn time you updated woman! geez!! glad to hear your life has taken such an exciting, rewarding and no doubt, lucrative turn!! and whats up w/chuck? is he still married? what are the details?? cant wait for you to update again. 3 months is far too long! *hugs*

thanks for the update. sounds like your life is very exciting these days.

February 13, 2008

my my, you’ve been busy.

February 13, 2008

so proud of you!!!

February 13, 2008

🙂

February 13, 2008

i love your updates. 🙂

February 14, 2008

Good god, an update. More details on the Chuck situation please and be safe in Afghanistan. xxxx

February 14, 2008

good to hear an update baby. be safe and be well!

February 14, 2008

you’ve come a long way, baby. good to hear from you. don’t forget about us!! : )

Glad to see a recent update 🙂

February 21, 2008

Have a great time 🙂

February 28, 2008

🙂

March 5, 2008

How did I miss your update….however, I am so glad you did update as we were left on a cliffhanger….dont do that again!!! Be careful and cant wait to read more.

March 28, 2008

i’m just now catching up 🙂 how exciting!!

June 11, 2008